Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 57, 253-256, 2004
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Original Article
Neisseria gonorrhoea, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Treponema pallidum Infection in Antenatal and Gynaecological Patients at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana
Kwasi Akyem Apea-Kubi*, Shinya Yamaguchi1, Bright Sakyi2, Toshio Kisimoto3, David Ofori-Adjei1 and Toshikatsu Hagiwara3
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ghana Medical School, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, 1Japan International Cooperation Agency, Infectious Disease Expert and 2Bacteriology Unit, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana and 3National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
(Received April 26, 2004. Accepted July 8, 2004)
*Corresponding author: Mailing address: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ghana Medical School, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana. Tel: +233-21- 661347, +233-20-8150297, Fax: +233-21-668425, E-mail: K_apeakubi@hotmail.com
SUMMARY: Five hundred and seventeen women attending
the gynecology and obstetrics clinics of the Korle-Bu Teaching
Hospital were examined for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Vaginal swabs were examined for Trichomonas vaginalis,
Candida albicans, and Gardnerella vaginalis infection.
Endocervical swabs were examined for Neisseria gonorrhoea
and Chlamydia trachomatis using a recently developed RNA
detection kit. Strain typing was performed to identify serovars
of C. trachomatis. Sera were analyzed for Treponema
pallidum with a passive-particle agglutination assay kit.
The prevalence of infection with N. gonorrhoea was 0.6%,
C. trachomatis 3.0%, and T. pallidum 5.6%.
Eight samples were PCR-positive for C. trachomatis. Five
of these were serovar G, and the rest were serovar E. All cases
of mixed infections occurred in pregnant women. In conclusion,
a high transmissible risk of T. pallidum infection was
observed among our study population and in particular among our
pregnant women. The absence of association between the presenting
symptoms, clinical findings, and specific pathogens has implications
for the syndromic approach to STI case management. The low prevalence
of C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoea may be due to
self medication and requires further research in primary health
institutions in rural areas to compare rates.